How to NOT hate exercise?

Do you hate walking too? Walking is exercise. Just walk.

Perhaps instead of looking for an intentional exercise, focus on getting your general activity level up - spend less time on the sofa, find activities that keep you from sitting down - arts & crafts, gardening, volunteering, dog walking,etc. Look for little ways you can increase your NEAT - taking stairs instead of lift/escalator, if you drive parking a little further away, if you take public transport getting off a stop early. All the little things add up.

Alternatively, I did notice there wasn't much in the way of watersports mentioned in your initial posts too- would that be an option to try? Rowing, kayaking, etc. I was terrified of fresh water before getting into rowing 18 months ago, but I've gotten over it now and find it so calming being out on the river. I'd say just keep an eye out for different things, one day there might just be something that clicks.

I hate to admit this but I originally got back into exercise when I was at my highest weight (255 or so and I'm only 5' 10", so that's obese) because I loved a bit of Peanut Butter at night. I ate back ALL of my exercise calories. I forced myself to walk, then do the Stationary Bike, then jog. I despised running. Hated it. In part because it was so painful and, in part, because I had never really done any sort of sustained cardio except in intermural BB and, perhaps, riding a bike around the neighborhood as a kid.

It sounds like you don't like the pain. I didn't either. Slowly, eventually, the pain passes. When mine did, I was able to move more and gain more "net" calories. To me, the interim pain was worth it to get more of a budget to eat. When running got too painful for me, I moved to the Assault Bike and Indoor Rower. I still wanted more net calories that I could eat back, even in maintenance!

Now, and granted this is nearly 12 years after starting to workout, I workout 7 hours a week -- most of that cardio. If I don't exercise, I feel miserable. Old habits can be changed over time. They really can.

Terytha wrote: »

NorthCascades wrote: »

How does anyone hate hiking? Did somebody bring you on a steep and nasty trail for your first time? Maybe try an easier trail with a big payoff?

I love hiking. I would never call it fun, and the enjoyable part isn't sweating up a hill being bit by flies and mosquitoes, that's stuff I put up with for the views and the time with nature.

I loathe hiking because it involves the two things I find most uncomfortable and exhausting: walking and being outside.

I only go for walks because the alternative is leg pain and swollen feet and that sucks more. Often when we go for a walk, we go to the mall and walk there because it's air conditioned and I won't get bit, stung or sunburned. I'm terrified of sunburn.

More to the point, OP, have you tried video games? I know some people who love Wii Fit still, or DDR. I play virtual reality games. Burns lots of calories dodging bullets or punching things. But it's not exercise, I don't do it to exercise, I play because I like games and getting high scores and I don't have to be around people.

There is a reason they make sunblock and UPF clothing.

Earlier this year I was obsessed with laser tag. Even if you've tried many activities, there are still loads of others to try. Do you like window shopping? Have you tried Pokemon Go or some more involved activities like planned treasure hunts? That's walking and walking is exercise. I actually did "Zombies! Run" without running, because I was not fit enough to run, I just walked. It was interesting!

If you decide you're done trying new activities, you could try linking something you like to the activity you hate the least. For example, I dedicate the most exciting audio books to "only while walking", so I walk in order to enjoy them and it becomes more about the audio book than the walking, deflecting the point of focus (since you're mentally resistant to the idea of exercise, making it about something else may help).

The other option is to do it because you need to do it regardless if you like it or not. Pick the activity you hate the least and force yourself to do it on a schedule without a fail. Even if you don't like something, if you do it often enough and consistently enough, it becomes a habit. You may not ever enjoy it, but you'll feel like something is missing if you skip a day for some reason and that feeling will be more annoying than the activity itself. That's how I deal with strength training because without it I get injured so I need to do it even though I hate every second of it. Although I do enjoy some of the activities I do, I do most of it in order to eat more, otherwise, I would do it less often. I love food, so it's a great motivator because if I don't move I don't get to eat the way I like to eat. Maybe there is a goal that is important to you and you're willing to feel discomfort in order to achieve it?

If you're not willing to do that, you could simply be active throughout the day. Don't delegate chores, do them yourself. Walk around the house when you're on the phone or waiting for coffee. Fold laundry in another room and make several trips to put it away...etc. That's physical activity too. I'm the designated garbage person in the house, for example.

If, in the end, you decide you don't really want to exercise, that's a choice to make too. If you understand that it may mean being unfit and are okay with that, then it's okay to make that choice.

If you still want to pursue this, maybe if you tell us what exactly you hate about physical activity, and what activities do you really enjoy, then maybe there will be better suggestions.

I just wanted to say you are not alone...I can't imagine anyone LIKING exc.
I hate it...everything about it..LOL..being sore...sweating....As I have seen my mom and family members get older and have health issues etc...I want to exc to keep my body and mind strong...I just keep that in the back of my mind

kim

With new details, possible alternatives/suggestions to improve the workout itself:

"For cardio, it’s being out of breath (lungs burning/heart pounding)" : I get like this too at the gym and I hate it. I don't know about you, but I find my sinuses burn, didn't even realize that was a thing that could feel! The way I get around this at home is, I do less intense workouts. On my own I go at my own speed to workout videos, have not had a breathing problem. At the gym, I'm learning to take breaks when I need them, not judge by when others are breaking around me. And if I take a break for breath, I slowly walk in place until my breathing is under my conscious control again (can breathe deep and controlled), before trying the next station.

"for strength stuff it’s the muscle pain, that painful feeling like your muscles might snap or cramp or something": What kind of weights are you doing, because from the sound of it you are trying too heavy from the start. I do the majority of my strength through youtube workout videos, with handweights. My strength is progressing slower than some, but my limbs never feel like they are going to break/strained something. The way it was explained to me is that you should be able to keep good form, rest as soon as you can't. If you get through the max number of reps without struggling, try a heavier set next time. It has been slightly more than a year and I am only just starting to do floor pushups (on knees, not many in a row), and I only just hit 10 lb weights.

Also, a different suggestion. My hubby hates exercise because he doesn't want to take time away from hobbies to work on strength. His solution was to rig up a stationary bike in front of the tv and he plays video games while cycling. It helps him zone out from thinking of the muscle movement and fatigue, and he still gets to do his games Obviously he is only doing cardio and not working upper body, but any movement is a win.

Not sure if this will help, just answering from personal experience from my couch 2 fit journey.

Mindset plays a big role. It sounds like you're only trying these pursuits because "it's good for you". Viewing exercise as a necessary evil has never worked well for me. I 100% do not like to run or do any sort of cardio, but if I can mentally rephrase the purpose of it as a warm-up to lifting, improving my athleticism, and/or see how fast I can do a distance I can tolerate it. As for the act itself, I'm best off with an out-and-back route. Trying to do laps in our subdivision or even plod away on the treadmill listening to a podcast or watching TV given the opportunity to stop, I will... I've seen me do it. Same with lifting, I tried doing P90X and P90X3 to get "shredded fast" and I just didn't like the concept and was just going through the motions because I had to. Switching to a powerlifting/bodybuilding hybrid approach changed that mindset to improving my strength by x lbs or make my arms, chest, legs, etc. look better. Sure, I don't necessarily like getting up at 5am to lift before work but I'm happier when I do because I know I'm working towards my performance and physique goals. Very much n=1 observations but that's what works for me. Make it less "I need to do X because it's good for me" (or burns Y calories) and more about stimulating, improving, and enjoying what your body can do.